Safe to say shots were fired all the way from Minnesota to LA. Now, fans have to pull the receipts. While he’s supposed to prepare for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA Cup game tomorrow, Chris Finch dropped some friendly fire on JJ Redick. Lakers fans are easily provoked. So they clapped back, and Wolves fans defended their coach.

There’s no animosity here, but it was definitely spicy when Zach Lowe brought up podcasting to Finch during a live-taping of his show. His response? “I mean… it will qualify you to coach the Lakers.” 

It’s not completely off the mark. JJ Redick was podcasting well into his first year as the head coach of the Lakers, with the star player LeBron James himself. His biggest claim to fame has been creating a new media space for athletes, retired and active, since hosting the popular Old Man and the Three podcast. It’s also undeniable that it kept him relevant, connected him to the NBA player fraternity, and on the Lakers radar when they needed a coach.

There’s a lot been said about Redick leveraging his podcast connection to LeBron James into a direct promotion to the head coach position. But not anymore. Redick’s proven his coaching chops, since 2024.

Interestingly, the two coaches have now faced each other 11 times since JJ’s hiring— with LA edging 4-2 in the regular season, but, Finch’s Wolves holding the 4-1 victory from last year’s Western Conference first round matchup.

This year the two teams have faced each other already, upsetting the Wolves on the road without Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Notably, Anthony Edwards was missing, still, an Austin Reaves led LA squad soared through the hostile Target Center crowd—with Reaves securing the game-winning floater.

The other game featured Luka and Ant, with Luka exploding for 49 points in the win. And if we go back further, back in September, 2023—Redick hosted Finch on his podcast, stating: “One of my favorite episodes we have done from our Coaching Series. Some REALLY great stuff in here from Coach Finch”

So Lakers fans felt Finch was a little below the belt. They took the bait and retaliated. Even though the jab was not actually directed to JJ Redick at the start.

Fans go to bat for JJ Redick

Angelites believe they know the root of Chris Finch’s petty jab at the Lakers HC. The Lakers are 2-0 against the Timberwolves in the 2025-26 season, without LeBron James. Naturally, fans had to pull up the win-lose column to remind him with added commentary like, “We 2-0 against the wolves this season btw,” and, “He mad we gave them belt this season.”

Fans also pointed out that Finch has an Anthony Edwards. Whereas, “And that same podcaster had no luka, No Bron, No smart & still beat & dratastically out coached you so what?”

They also think there’s some jealousy talking. Finch had taken the traditional route, from retiring as a player to climbing the ranks and moving from team to team until he secured the Head Coaching job at Minnesota in 2021.

He was an assistant coach at New Orleans when Redick was there for a while as well. Meanwhile, Redick got Steve Kerr-ed straight into the top coaching position at a big market franchise, probably because of how close his media connections kept him.

But that’s also the reason why the more rational side of the Internet is saying, “Relax a bit, Finch coached JJ during his playing days. This is no shade or anything lol.”

There’s truly no shade intended, and certainly not at Redick. The comment was actually directed at Zach Lowe. The former ESPN employee had a quiet offseason before returning to podcasting. Finch referenced Redick’s podcasting and coaching background as a playful jab at Lowe, who isn’t being considered for any coaching positions.

Those opportunities are reserved for a select few, like Redick’s ESPN colleague Doc Rivers, who secured the Milwaukee Bucks head coaching job.

There are those on Finch’s side, too. Or just some frustrated fans. Like this one, “He’s not wrong. The Lakers make dum- decisions. JJ is one of them.”

Others are just shocked at the changing landscape, rightfully pointing out, “Podcasting becoming the new coaching badge is wild.” 

Either way, we know there’s no hard feelings. Unless JJ Redick wants to take shots on a podcast.